Hartson completes Coventry switch

John Hartson has finally completed his move from Wimbledon to Coventry - and may face his old club West Ham at Upton Park on Monday.

The on-off saga finally reached a conclusion late last night and the 25-year-old Welsh international was today training with his new team-mates.

Coventry chairman Bryan Richardson said: "We are delighted John is joining us. We have agreed terms with Wimbledon, details of which will remain private between the clubs."

The deal for Hartson - who had seen moves to Tottenham and Rangers collapse for medical reasons - has gone through at the third time of asking for Coventry.

Sky Blues manager Gordon Strachan was desperate to bring in new firepower to bolster a shot-shy attack which has managed just 23 goals in 26 Premiership matches.

Hartson, who has hit 10 goals in 22 appearances this season, will give Coventry an all-Welsh partnership up front, with £6.5m club record-signing Craig Bellamy.

Coventry are understood to have agreed a unique pay-per-play deal with the Dons for Hartson after the £5m transfer collapsed because the Sky Blues could not obtain insurance cover for the move.

It had originally fallen through when Coventry's Belgian striker Cedric Roussel declined to move to Wimbledon in part exchange.

Hartson will join a club in desperate need of a lift as they are five points adrift of safety and struggling to preserve their 34-year stay in the top flight.

Richardson said: "We have been creating many chances in recent weeks and not converting them and hopefully Hartson can rectify that situation. I also think that Craig Bellamy will benefit from having Hartson alongside him."

The completion of the deal is a big relief to Roussel after his refusal to drop into the First Division. He said: "I didn't want to break the fans' hearts because they want good players here and I was the one who blocked the Hartson deal.

"I was the one who stopped him coming here because I wanted to remain in the Premier-ship. The fans have been great to me since but it's good that things are sorted out."